Saturday

Sunday

More positive numbers from the Bridgestone Invitational

Last Monday, I scribbled in my notebook about the Bridgestone Invitational, including an attendance increase of about 8%. In the meantime, tournament officials reported in a news release late last week other numbers that trended upward at this year's event:

Corporate hospitality, attendance and ticket revenues were all up approximately 8% compared to 2011.

Executive Women's Day sold out and included 184 area businesswomen with tremendous feedback from all involved.

There were 355 members of the media credentialed, representing 114 organizations from 11 different countries.

The Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure, which took place on July 29, had more than 1,200 breast cancer survivors and supporters walk from Firestone Stadium to Firestone Country Club. Fundraising continues for this event through Oct. 15 with hopes of raising a significant amount (in the six figures) for this worthy cause.

Tickets Fore Charity raised more than $84,000, an increase of nearly 75% from 2011; that program allows charities to sell discounted tickets and receive a cut of those proceeds.

Tickets redeemed by active duty, reserve and retired military and their dependents increased 113% from 2011.
More golf:I've written a couple times about Stow-based Icon Sports Management, which represents golfers; one of its clients is Ian Poulter, in whom I've taken a bit more of an interest since learning he was repped locally.
Well, there was Poulter in Sunday's final round of the PGA Championship, making birdie on his first five holes before fading late. He hit his first five fairways and greens and needed five putts through five holes. Incredible start!
Expect the big golf equipment manufacturers to get bigger, Bloomberg reported over the weekend:
Sales of golf equipment in U.S. on- and off-course shops shrank by 17% to $2.41 billion from 2007 to 2011, according to figures provided by Golf Datatech, while the number of courses opening in the country declined by more than 80% in the same period, the National Golf Foundation said. That hasn't stopped the biggest suppliers from getting bigger. TaylorMade increased sales by 27% in those five years and Adidas this year agreed to buy Adams Golf Inc. for $70 million.

The Magic fail in bottoming out

I wrote in January of the dead middle ground some NBA teams are finding themselves in: not good enough to contend, but not bad enough to bottom out and get a top pick.
Well, the Orlando Magic, in settling on a terrible package for Dwight Howard, tried — and failed. In the parlance of one of the great television shows of our time, the Magic took a half measure instead of a full measure. Orlando attempted to bottom out, but its salary-cap situation will prevent it from going all the way down; their acquisition of Aaron Afflalo in the Howard deal is puzzling, because of salary implications. (Here's the Magic's new balance sheet.)
From The New York Times, reviewing the deal:
That leaves us looking to Orlando's cap sheet for guidance in ascertaining the team's motivations, but there honestly isn't much to be found. Orlando has naturally saved a bit in the deal, but in acquiring Afflalo (who will earn $31.2 million over the next four seasons) and Harrington (who will make a guaranteed $13.8 million over three years if the Magic release him before the 2013-14 season) without trading away the handsomely compensated Hedo Turkoglu or Glen Davis, the Magic have made less progress on that front than one might think.
(Speaking of: If you're not watching “Breaking Bad,” you're a fool, respectfully. And if you are watching, and saw Sunday night's episode, please email me so I can talk to someone about it.)
If you're not following me on Twitter, what are you waiting for? And, I trust you're listening to Crain's podcasts?
And, of course, email me with any news tips you see fit for this space.

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